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Show 126 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, tics. :Meantime, he attached himself to Tom more and more, c\·cry day. In all the wide world, there was nothing. th.at seemed to remind him so much of Evn.; and he would mstst 011 keeping l1irn constantly about him, ::mel, fastidious. and unapproachable as he was with regard to his deeper fcelmgs, he almost thought aloud to Tom. Nor would any one have wondered at it, who had seen the expression of affection and devotion with which Tom continually followed his young master. " Well, •rom," said St. Clare, the day after he had com-mcnccU the legal formalities for his cnfro.nchisement, 11 I 'm going to make a. free man of you;- so, have your trunk packed, and get ready to set out for Ken tuck." '11110 sudden light of joy that shone in Tom's face as he raised his hands to heaven, his emphatic "Bless the Lord!" rather discomposed St. Clare ; he did not like it that 'rom should be so ready to leave him. n You haven' t had such very bad times here, that you need be in such a. ra.pturc, rrorn/: he said, drily. '' Ro, no, Mas'r! 'tan't that,-it 's bein' a free man! Tlw,t 's wl~:~t I 'm joyin' for." ""\\Thy, '.fom, don't you think, for your own part, you've been better oiT than to be free? '' ''No, iwleed, 1\Ias'r St. Clare," said 'rom, with a flash of energy. "No, indeed ! " "Why, Tom, you couldn' t possibly have earned, by your work, such clothes and such living as I have given you." "Knows all tha.t, ~Ias'r St. Clare; ~Io.s' r 's been too good ; but, ~Ias'r, I 'd rather have poor clothes, poor house, poor everything, and have 'em n~ine, than have the best, and have 'em uny man's else,- I had so, 1\fas' r ; I think it 's natur, Mas'r.'' LIFE AMONG TilE LOWLY. 127 "I suppose so, Tom, and you 'II be going off and leaving me, in n. month or so," he added, rather discontentedly. '' 'l1hough why you shouldn't, no mortal knows,'' he said, in a gayer tone; and, getting up, ho began to walk tho floor. "Not while ].fas'r is in trouble," said Tom. n I'll stay with l\{as'r as long as he wants me,-so as I can be any use." "Not while I'm in trouble, 'fom 1" said St. Clare, look-ing sadly out of the window. "And when will 1ny trouble be over?" "VVhcn 1\fas'r St. Clare's n. Christian," said Torn. "And you really mean to stay by till that day comes 1" said St. Clare, half smiling, as he turned from the window, and laid his hand on Tom's shoulder. " Ah, Tom, you soft, •silly boy! I won't keep you till that day. Go home to your wife and children, and gi\'C my love to all." " I 's faith to believe that day will come," said Tom, earnestly, and with tears in his eyes; "the Lord has a work for ?tias'r." "A work, hey? " snid St. Clare; "well, now, Tom, give me your views on what sort of a work it is; -let's hear." 11 Why, even a poor fellow like me has a work from tho Lord; and ~fns'r St. Clare, that has 1arnin, and riches, and friends,- how much he might do for the Lord! " " Tom, you seem to think the Lord needs a great deal done for him," said St. Clare, smiling. 11 'Ve does for tl1e Lord when we does for his critturs," said Tom. " Gocd theology, Tom ; better than Dr. B. preaches, I dare swear," said St. Clare. ~rho conversation was hero interrupted by the announcement of some visiters. Marie St. Clare felt tho loss of Eva as deeply as she could |